Double Bass Bass Max to the rescue

[bassfiddlesteve]

Upon obtaining my new bass in February, I once again embarked on the dreaded pickup quest. While the Realist served me well on my trusty '49 Kay, on my carved '60 E.H. Roth it was very uneven sounding and prone to feedback. I had high hopes for the Realist SoundClip, but this didn't pan out either (as detailed on this thread).

For quite some time I've kept a K&K Bass Max in my gig bag as a spare. It sounded decent on the Kay bass, but not as good as the Realist. I went ahead and installed it on the Roth and to my surprise it sounded really good plugged straight into my GK combo once I attenuate some of the high end. It's also much less prone to feedback. I haven't tried it on gig yet, but it's quite possible that the immediate answer to my double bass amplification needs may have been in my gig bag all along.

- Steve

 

[drurb]

The BassMax is a good backup to have. I keep one in the bag as well and hope that I never actually have to use it.

 

[blindeddie]

i recently switched back to my Bass Max after having used the Revolution Solo II for a few years. on my first go around with the K&K, i used the Pure Pre with it on my old romanian carved bass. but i recently bought a Samson Airline wireless and to my amazement, when i plugged it into my Thompson plywood that has the Bass Max, it sounded great. no real preamp, just the wireless as a sort of buffer to my amp. i expected the worst and i am actually really stoked about the sound. i've been dragging the plywood to a TON of gigs lately and i just take the Airline and plug it into the PA or whatever amp is around and i'm getting a clean quiet signal that sounds as fat as a cable, plus it am getting to enjoy the freedom of movement which helps with any possible feedback

 

[drurb]

Different strokes for different folks. Surely no one pickup is right for everyone and every bass. In most cases though, to my ears, IMO, IME, a Rev Solo II vs. a BassMax is somewhat like a Lexus vs. a go-cart, respectively.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

Different strokes for different folks. Surely no one pickup is right for everyone and every bass. In most cases though, to my ears, IMO, IME, a Rev Solo II vs. a BassMax is somewhat like a Lexus vs. a go-cart.

Different strokes indeed. I couldn't get the Revolution Solo II to sound like much of anything on my bass. Pickups are so bass-dependent it's not even funny. Hopefully we all find what works for us eventually.

- Steve

 

[drurb]

Different strokes indeed. I couldn't get the Revolution Solo II to sound like much of anything on my bass. Pickups are so bass-dependent it's not even funny. Hopefully we all find what works for us eventually.

- Steve

Yup, the fit of the Rev Solo is crucial and, even then, a minority report that it just doesn't end up being satisfactory. On any bass that I've used and heard the BassMax however, it ended up sounding like a giant BG.

 

[Marc Piane]

Come on Doc. We all know it really depends on the bass. My main bass has a Realist and I love it. My B bass has had about every pickup on it including the Realist, Rev Solo I and II, Underwood, and the Bassmax. Right now it's got the Bassmax. Maybe not the most natural sounding of the lot but the most plug and play with the least feedback issues and little piezo honk on my bass.

I tried the Bassmax on my main bass and a Rev II and the Realist works best for the sound I want from that bass.

 

[oerk]

FWIW, the Bass Max seems to be quite forgiving of where you plug it into. No matter with what I tried it, it didn't come out as thin or nasal. Granted, it's not very natural sounding, but that's not what I'm going for anyway.

A preamp is in the works, but to be honest, I didn't need one until now.

 

[Mandobassman]

Different strokes indeed. I couldn't get the Revolution Solo II to sound like much of anything on my bass. Pickups are so bass-dependent it's not even funny. Hopefully we all find what works for us eventually.

- Steve

And amp dependent as well. I have had a Bass Max for several years now. Had it on a '50 K M1-B and now have it on my Oriente. I don't use the pickup much but used it several times on a good Hartke amp and it sounded great. I recently picked up a GK Backline 112 and it sounds lousy on that amp. I'm working with a mic set up now so I won't be using the pickup anymore.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

Well, I finally tried the Bass Max on a gig and I was disappointed. The output from the pickup was very low and the sound wasn't as natural in a real world setting. I may try it again with a good preamp that will offer some additional gain, EQ and a lower input impedance, but I'm not convinced that this pickup is the answer. The search continues....

- Steve

 

[tornadobass]

The output of a BassMax is usually pretty hot. Probably something wrong with the pickup or installation.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

The output of a BassMax is usually pretty hot. Probably something wrong with the pickup or installation.

When I tried this pickup a few years ago (different Bass Max and different bass) it was indeed very hot. The installation seems fine, so I wonder if there's something wrong with this Bass Max which I bought used here on TBDB.

- Steve

 

[tornadobass]

I had one like that I bought used here...the level is maybe half of what my usual pickup puts out. Jack Baley of K&K told me:

The output level of our Bass Max pickups are dependent on many factors. Exact placement in the wing slot and the amount of pressure exerted on the pickup among others. An output level that is exceptionally low can be the
result of internal damage. It is possible for the pickup to have good tone with lowered output from some types of damage. If the sound is clean, no crackling or popping, then the pickup remains useful. The output level is very dependent on the pressure exerted on the pickup. The age of the materials in the pickup can result in a decrease in this pressure (after years of being clamped tight in the slot) and thus a reduction in level.
Try readjusting the position of the pickup, this may result in an increase in signal level.

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

Come on Doc. We all know it really depends on the bass. My main bass has a Realist and I love it. My B bass has had about every pickup on it including the Realist, Rev Solo I and II, Underwood, and the Bassmax. Right now it's got the Bassmax. Maybe not the most natural sounding of the lot but the most plug and play with the least feedback issues and little piezo honk on my bass.

I tried the Bassmax on my main bass and a Rev II and the Realist works best for the sound I want from that bass.

That's interesting as I had a Bassmax but was very unhappy with the sound and ended up giving it away - but I have since had a Revolution Solo I and II, which have sounded hugely better - much more natural-sounding?

 

[uprightben]

The first pickup I got for my bass in 2001 was the Bass max withe the mic and preamp package. I could never get the mic going, and the preamp didn't sound good, but eh bass max has always sounded great on my bass plugged straight into an amp or PA. I've sat in on basses with realist and full circle PU and have never really been tempted to switch.

 

[Thumpie]

I used a Bass Max for a few years. It was ok, but I was never crazy about it. I've still got it on my #2 bass. I should try it through my new 10megaohm preamp to see if it works any better than the with the old 2meg input I was using back when my #2 was my #1.

I'm now in Full Circle heaven.

 

[Mark Gollihur]

Not to anyone in particular, but just a point worth making: Two factors of the installation of the Bass Max are absolutely key:

1. CONTACT: The little "sandwich" has two transducers, one on each side. The flatter the contact between those transducers and the wood, the better. You should not only widen the bridge wing slot, you should flatten both sides of it for max contact.
2. PRESSURE: And the pressure should be thus: if you wanted to remove the pickup, you could easily do so without twisting and grunting - but it should be tight enough that bumping up against the cord wouldn't knock it out of position (or out of the bridge.) So, just tight "enough" but not "too tight."

Hope that helps someone.